What better way to bring in the springtime than attending Scotland's Daffodil Festival! This year, this colourful event will be taking place virtually from the 17th - 18th of April and is guaranteed to put a spring in your step. There will be a full programme of events taking place online over the two days, featuring tours, talks, workshops and more! 

Backhouse Rossie Estate was first documented by the Roman Army and in 2016, for the first time in 1,000 years, it opened it's doors to the public. 2016 was also the beginning of Scotland’s Daffodil Festival, which was opened by George Anderson MBE.

The festival celebrated the newly accredited National Collection of Narcissus bred by the family’s forebears and was supported by the Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden Herbarium. Backhouse Rossie's plant specimens date back to the 1800’s and the family’s ancestors botanical legacy joins the rich agricultural history of North East Fife. 

The programme over the weekend is set to include the following virtual events: 

• The scene is set with a Guided Tour by Caroline Thomson of the beautiful National Collection of Backhouse daffodils, including the first varieties bred from the wild William Wordsworth style daffodils. 
• A Round Table Q&A with daffodil experts George Anderson MBE and TV presenter, John Gibson Vice Chairman of the RHS Bulb Committee and Neil Watson of Ringhaddy Daffodils.
• A fireside story read by the author, daffodil expert Dr David Willis, a tale of twists and turns in the journey to successfully find the most important cultivar in early daffodil hybridising history lost in the mists of time.
• Talks from two of the top daffodil growers and hybridisers in the country Neil Watson of Ringhaddy Daffodils and Adrian Scamp of Scamps Quality Daffodils, with an opportunity to order award winning unusual daffodils and spring bulbs.
• Fife's Food Ambassador the eminent chef, Christopher Trotter talks and cooks Spring-time seasonal recipes.
• Moths and Butterflies by Scotland's expert Duncan Davidson, species never been spotted in Fife before, but identified at Backhouse Rossie Estate.
• A Tour of the Walled Garden and Grounds in spring with Tim Viney Lead Gardener.
• Seed Propagation Work-shop
• Peak into the Backhouse Heritage and Education Centre
• A Talk on the development of the estate a 15+ year unfolding project by Andrew Thomson.

The events programme will be made available for two days (19th-20th) following the Festival. 

Scotland’s Virtual Daffodil Festival 17th-18th April 2021 (10am - 5pm)

Full event programme: see website 

Buy tickets from website

Backhouse Rossie Estate, gardens and Café are open from April to September (10am - 4pm) each year. (Covid restrictions apply, please check website prior to visiting).